Muhlenkort



jufly 15, 1952 M. MUHLENKORT 2,603,207

AIR-HEATING FURNACE FOR GRAIN DEHYDRATION Filed Aug. 21, 1947 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 INVENTOR. Mike .Muhlenhort myz ra.

Patented July 15, 1952 PATENT OFFICE AIR-HEATING FURNACE FOR GRAIN DEHYDRATION Mike Muhlenkort, Sioux Falls. s. Dak. Application August 21, 1947, Serial m ma 3 Claims. (01. 126-110) 1 This invention relates to dehydrating equipment and more particularly to such equipment as ,may be used for dehydrating corn and other grains.

It is an object of the present invention to provide dehydrating equipment which is portable, compact and so constructed as to efiectively and efficiently heat air to be extended from the same to dehydrate grain.

It is another object of the present invention to provide dehydrating equipment wherein the cooled air applied by a blower is directed around the tubes which are supplied with the burner .flames at the location along the tubes where the burner flames would contact the same so that a maximum cooling of the tubes can be effected with the new cold air to prevent the tubes from becoming damaged by the flames and wherein the heated air rises through the equipment with the burner gases to extract the heat from the gases and wherein certain of the air which is cooled is, at a high point, injected into the burner gases to have a maximum draft through the burner gases pipe.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide dehydrating equipment for grain which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture and eflicient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention. reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of my dehydrating equipment with portions broken away and shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken through the equipment and on line 2-2 of Fig.1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view, in elevation, taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the figures, l0 represents a trailer frame which is supported on its rear end upon wheels II and upon its front end when not being pulled by a support pin or prop 12. A tongue l3 extends forwardly for the attachment of the equipment to a tractor or other like device for the purpose of transporting the equipment. On the frame is a large casing l4 providing a housing through which air is extended by a blower 15 attached to the rear end of the casing, the heated air passing from the rear of the equipment and outwardly through a top flue I6 above the blower to the grain being dehydrated. Fresh cold air is taken in through the blower and extended through the casing [4. Within the casing is a bafiie I! for causing the air upon being forced through the casing to take a circuitous path in reaching the flue l6.

Ahead of the casing i4 and on the frame l0 are two burners l8 arranged side by side and supplied with fuel through pipes i9 respectively leading from a fuel supply tank 21. To control the supply of fuel there is provided hand valves 22 in the respective pipe lines 18. I

Within the casing i4 and extending from a low point within the casing there is extended two large pipes 23 which are bent to pass in serpentine fashion upwardly through the casing and terminating in a chimney 24 leaving the top of the casing. These pipes extend forwardly and outwardly of the casing M to receive the flames from the burner I8 in order to conduct them away from the burner and upwardly and throughthe casing whereby to heat the air which is forced into the casing by the blower l5. It will be noted that the blower enters the casing at a low point and such that cold air will first be directed over the heated pipe 23 at a location where it is receiving the hottest flame whereby to protect the pipes and prevent the same from being damaged as a result of becoming too hot. The coldest and most dense air is directed to the hottest part of the heater pipe 23. By controlling the amount of fuel passing to the burners and regulating the speed of the blower any desired temperature of the air leaving through the 'flue Hi can be obtained and as well the volume of air which is being extended from'the equipment. The blower l5 has a belt pulley 26 to'which can be attached a belt extending from a power plant or electric motor, not shown.

In order to be certain of a good draft through the pipe 23, there is provided an injector pipe 28 extending from the top of the casing M to the pipe 24 at a point above where it leaves from the top of the casing. Heated air will be directed upwardly through the pipe 28 and will draw with it the gases from the chimney 24 and cause a draft to be created in the lower regions of the pipe 23.

The equipment will accordingly supply heated air which is free of gases which would be injurious to the grain being dehydrated. A hot blast of air is had free of the burner gases.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a portable grain dehydrator, the combination which comprises a frame, a substantially 3 hollow rectangular shaped housing having a front end, a rear end, upper and lower panels and side walls mounted on said frame, said housing having ing having an outlet opening in the upper part thereof positioned above the baffle and spaced from the upper end of the said rear end of the housing, a heat conveying pipe extended inwardly into the housing through the front end below the baflle to a point spaced from the rear end therev of, upwardly and forwardly with a U-bend alsoforward end of the housing, blowers carried by the device and positioned to exhaust into the housing through the said inlet openings below the baffle, and a hot air connection extended from the said outlet opening in the rear end of the housing.

3. In a portable grain dehydrator, the combination which comprises a frame, a substantially hollow'rectang'ular shaped housing having a front end, a rear end, upper and lower panels and side walls mounted on said frame, said housing having a horizontally disposed baffle extended inwardly from the: reari'end to a point spaced from the below the baflie to a point spaced from the front 7 end, upwardly through. the space at the end of theibafile atthe frontend of the housing, rear.- warly above the baffle to a point spaced from the rear end of the housing, forwardly with. still another U-bend to. a point spaced from the front of the housing and. then upwardl through an opening in the upper panel of the housing and opening to the atmosphere, a burner positioned to exhaust gases into the lower end of the. said pipe and at the forward end of the housing, a blower carried by the device and positioned to discharge into, the housing through thesaidinl'et opening below the baffle, and a-hotair connection extend'ed'from the said outletv opening in the rear end; ofthe housing.

2; In a portable grain dehydrator, the combination which comprises a frame, a substantially hollow rectangular shaped housin havinga front end, a rear. end, upper. and, lower panelsand side walls mounted on said frame, said housing having .a' horizontally disposed base. extended, in-

wardly fromthe rear end to a point spaced from the. frontend thereof and from side to-side of the housing, whereby to definea UV-shaped pathfor the air to be heated therein, the rear end of the housing. having inlet openings therein positioned below the bafil'e and an outlet opening in the rear end positioned above the bafiie and spaced from the upper end'of thesaid rear end of the housing,

heat. conveying pipesextended inwardly intothe housing through the front-end below the battle to apoint' spaced fromtherear, end thereof, up-

wardly and forwardly with 'U-bends also below the baffle toa. point spaced from the frontend, upwardly through the space at the end of the ba'flle at the front end of the housing, rearwardly above the bafile to a point spaced from the.- rear mosphere, burners positionedto exhaust gases into. the.low.er ends of the said pipes and at-the front end of the housing and from side to side of-the housing, whereby to define a U-shaped path for the air to be heated therein, the rear end" offthe'housing. having inlet openings therein positioned below the baflie, said rear end of the'housing having an outlet opening in the upper part thereof positioned above the baflie and spaced from the upper end of the said rear end of the housing, heat conveying pipes extended inwardly into the housing through the front end below the baffle to a point spaced from the rear end thereof, upwardly and forwardly with U-bends also below the-baffle to a point spaced from the front end, upwardly through the space at the end of the baffle at the front end of the housing, rearwardly above the baffle to a point spaced from the rear end of the housing, forwardly with then other U- bends toa point spaced from the front end of thehousing-andthen upwardly through an opening in the upper panel ofthe housing and opening-"to theatmosphere, burners positioned to exhaust gases into the lower ends' of the said pipes and at the forwardend of the housing, blowers carried by the device and positioned to discharge into the housingthrough the said inlet openings below the ba-fil'ei a: hot airconnection extended from the said outlet opening in the rear end of the housing'and spaced from the upper end thereof, a bypass connection extended diagonally from points in the upper part of the housing tothe pipes passing to the atmosphere; and a fuel tank with" a connection tothe burner carried by and positioned on one" side of the housing;

MUHLENKORT.

REFERENCES g The following references are of' record.- in the fil'etof this patent:

UNITED STATESPATENTS' Number Name Date 1,579,240 Owen Apr: 6; 1926 1 ,644,180 Croan' Oct/4, 1927 $299,901 Johnston Oct. 27, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number: Country Date.

453,809: GreatiBritain Sept. 18, 1936 Ho11and; e Jan.15,.1937 

